tricks and help from instructors

i am trying to compile a list of things that our instructors have done to help us along the way. i would like to collect these tricks to send on to any incoming students and to provide feedback to instructors. im looking more for favors (see below) not so much tips ("never ask why") some things ive heard are:
breaking off the erasers on pencils used for testing
handing out earplugs
providing brain food on test day

Not quite sure if I understand your question.. are you looking for rumor type stuff?
the only one I think that might help you is for my pharm final the instructor said, studies show that chewing gum during an exam increases memory and thus increases test scores. It was funny we all ran to our backpacks and emptied our stashes of gum

hope this helps!

May 28, '09

how is breaking off the erasers helping you? what if u need to erase something?

May 28, '09

Snwbdr...usually when taking a test your first instinct is right. When you start erasing and second guessing yourself this is when you get into trouble. We've actually had students fail out because of that stupid little pink eraser on their pencil. Go with your gut and your first instinct, dont erase your answers.

As for tips, we were told to eat protein for breakfast and then get a candy bar right before the test. Our instructor also does some deep breathing relaxation with us all before every test....and another thing she has helped us with was "Don't think too deep, K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid)" If it doesn't say it, it doesn't mean it.

Neat idea kgreer, would love to see the list when you are done compiling.

May 28, '09

One our instructors would light a lavender candle so we could relax. Other students started putting peppermint oil behind their ears, I dont know if that worked though. Every instructor has said so far, "Dont read too much into the question, take it at face value."

I agree about eating protein the day of a test. I eat egg whites and I cut down on the coffee.

May 28, '09

1.our instructors would play funny youtube videos before our test.

2. peppermint is also supposed to help you focus, unwrap before the test starts.

3. always use the restroom before the test.

4.if you commute arrive early, run to the chik-fi-la on the corner for breakfast.

5.don't sit in the hall outside the classroom listening to other people review, sometimes all of that will just make your nerves a bit more wired.

6. just leave the cell phone in the car. (this goes for egg timer's too-weird i know but apparently someone had an egg timer in their purse and it went off during a test and they had to take her test and send her out because of the rules.)

7. if you don't know it 5 minutes before the test, it's a little late to learn it now.

9. answer all the questions you know first, then go back to the ones that had you stumped-prevents bogging down on one question, you may have a lightbulb moment later on, but you don't want to not finish the test because you spent 10 minutes on one question worth 2 points.

10. be confident and professional.

May 28, '09

Our professors would get onto us before every test, saying "Don't change your answers!!" because we had people fail or just miss alot when they would do that. Oddly enough, I always have to back through and look over my answers because I always find that I have gotten some answers wrong the first time. So I ignore that advice. It worked for everyone else, though.

We had peppermint candy in the test room to help us with our focus.

I am getting some good ideas from here for next semseter!

May 28, '09

Read all the answers, don't pick the first one that sounds right.
Look for key words in the questions, what is really being asked?
Go for the best answer, sometimes two answers may seem right, but one will be better than the other.
Go to the test reviews! Even if you got most of it right, read the rationales for the answers, you might learn even more about how NCLEX questions are written.

May 28, '09

The "don't change your answers" mantra is bad advice for me. When I'm done with my exam, I always go back and quickly re-read the questions and the answers I chose. I find I change 3-4 answers per exam, and almost always end up with the correct answer after changing. Also, I find I can use answers from some questions to help find the answer to others I am unsure of, when I am done. It's a process of deductive reasoning. There are many clues to correct answers in other question stems and answers.

Read all the answers, don't pick the first one that sounds right.
Look for key words in the questions, what is really being asked?
Go for the best answer, sometimes two answers may seem right, but one will be better than the other.
Go to the test reviews! Even if you got most of it right, read the rationales for the answers, you might learn even more about how NCLEX questions are written.

Test reviews? I'm envious. We don't get a real opportunity to see rationales or ask questions about our exams. The only opportunity to ask questions about the exams is if you make an appointment to go in for a 30-minute time with all the students who failed the exam. It'll be a crew of many students who failed, all in one tiny room with one instructor who's on security patrol while you view your exam. If you ask questions about rationales, the poor instructor doesn't have time to really answer because he or she's watching the students review their exams like a hawk and answering the phone.

So my point? If you have an opportunity to ask questions about the exams or attend some kind of exam review like JBudd mentioned, savor the opportunity and learn all you can!

Our professors would get onto us before every test, saying "Don't change your answers!!" because we had people fail or just miss alot when they would do that. Oddly enough, I always have to back through and look over my answers because I always find that I have gotten some answers wrong the first time. So I ignore that advice. It worked for everyone else, though.

We had peppermint candy in the test room to help us with our focus.

I am getting some good ideas from here for next semseter!

I agree with you. I never heard this stuff about "go with your first answer" until I came to the USA. I was taught to read and answer the questions rather quickly and always leave time to review.